Assessing my options

[technocrat626]

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I'm a 25 year old non-traditional student. I'm in my sophomore year and have decided that I want to go to medical school. I have no wife or children, so I don't have to deal with that complication. However, my academic record as of right now is bad. I have a GPA of 2.85 and lots of withdrawals on my transcript. I have a severe depression disorder which has gone untreated until recently, which is the chief cause of my past academic failures. I've been floating through university studies thus far without declaring a major, not knowing what to do with my life. Lots of soul searching, therapist meetings, and career interest inventories have led me to the realization that the only profession I would ultimately be happy with is that of a physician.

I'm intimidated by this revelation. Is this possible for me? Can someone with my academic past (GED, lackluster college performance) and depression issues actually accomplish something like this? I wonder if I'm being completely unrealistic. Have any of you been through similar circumstances and succeeded?

 

[DrMidlife]

People recover from GPA damage and get into med school, yes.

Generally you need straight A's for the rest of your undergrad life. If you can't get A's right now (if you're adjusting to medication or whatnot), then it would be better to take a leave from school than to keep taking classes, from a med school admissions perspective. Your GPA is more permanent than a tattoo.

You need to get some credibility behind that revelation. Get thee to a hospital or clinic and start volunteering a few hours a week (forever). Shadow physicians. Dig in and do some agonizing over whether medicine is a field in which you would do well. Be willing to be talked out of it (same goes for 4.0's).

Best of luck to you.

 

[Veritas86]

Similar story for me, though about a year later in life.

My advice? Get as regulated as you can through meds and therapy and whatnot and be prepared to bust your proverbial *** hitting the books.

Also, for what its worth, in health care, med school isn't the only way to go. EMS is another option for me, as is PA school. Keep your options open! As much as the SDN populace is all about being docs, as the name would suggest, there's a world of other ways to make a difference amd care for patients.

And really? No one is going to have to live your life but you. Make the right choice for YOU.

Just my $.02

Edit: And as far as being talked out of it, frankly? **** the naysayers. You know what you're capable of and want to do. Don't let the detractment of a two-bit advisor with a career inventory CD-ROM sway you. Almost happened to me. Long story...